His “Elevate Chicago” proposal calls for a 10,000-seat arena for DePaul University’s basketball teams, two hotels, entertainment venues, and restaurants around McCormick Place. The cost of the arena is $173 million, while the total cost at McCormick is $1.1 billion.

The project is expected to create 10,000 new construction jobs, and 3,700 permanent jobs. Work is slated to begin next year.

“It’s an investment in jobs,” said Jim Reilly, C.E.O. of The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state-city agency that owns McCormick Place and Navy Pier.

“Elevate Chicago” also includes a redesign at Navy Pier, and a busy portion of the bike path along the lakefront from just south of the Chicago River to Oak Street beach will be reconfigured.

At Navy Pier, the Children’s Museum will undergo an expansion, there will be a new park, and bars and restaurants will be added on the east end. Works begins in the fall.

Funding for these projects will come from taxpayers and private dollars.

8 comments

WAWWLI

Great, more targets for thugs! How about fixing crime before inviting in new targets. Who would want to come to the most beautiful city in the United States thinking they are going to get mugged or shot? Certainly not me! If you clean it up, they will come!

TOMAS

Whatever

Want to improve tourism? How about a daily high noon hanging at the Civic Center of the latest politician or political funkie caught with their hands in the cookie jar, on the take, lying, thugging, opening their mouths and proposing some assinine legislation without thinking. The people WILL come.

bill

Wisconsinite

Right on target Bill. I used to come to Chicago at least 4 times a year. I have not set foot in Chicago in two years because of the crime. I also have my conceal carry permit and I would go back to Chicago if I could legally carry there, then I would feel comfortable enough to visit.